(1861-65) Civil War Store Card F-560A-1h, Bla Rubber W. Rust NJ

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by Bla Rubber W. Rust in New Jersey. New Jersey was a vital industrial and transportation state, with Newark, Trenton, and Paterson as major manufacturing centers where merchants issued Civil War tokens. Struck in lead, this die combination (Fuld 560A-1h) is scarce. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Lead examples are rare survivors, as the soft metal is easily damaged and many pieces were discarded. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

Rarity Notes

Lead strikings are uncommon, likely produced as trial pieces or die tests rather than for commercial circulation. With 1 cataloged varieties, Bla Rubber W. Rust was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 560A-1h